Mariners 8 and 9 Spacecraft

Launch (Mariner 9): May 30, 1971
Arrival (Mariner 9): November 13, 1971
Mass: 998 kilograms (2,200 pounds)
Science instruments: Wide- and narrow-angle cameras with digital tape recorder, infrared spectrometer and radiometer, ultraviolet spectrometer, radio occultation and celestial mechanics instruments

It was two years after Mariner 7 that Mariner 8 was launched, designed to perform the next important phrase: an orbit of Mars. It however, failed to launch properly and 365 seconds after its launch, fell into the Atlantic. Meanwhile, the IKI was also launching their unmanned missions. The Kosmos 419 was launched 2 days after Mariner 8, designed as a lander. It however only achieved earth orbit. That same month the IKI also launched Mars 2 and 3, which were both designed as orbiters and landers. While Mars 2 crashed, Mars 3 managed to send back data and photos. These were however, not many. Mariner 9 however, launched 22 days after Mariner 8, on the May 30, 1971, arrived at Mars November 14, 1971. Primarily, Mariner 9 was equipped with the same instruments as Mariners 6 and 7, but carried a larger propulsion system for orbiting. As a result, Mariner 9 weighed more than Mariner 6 and 7 combined. Mariner 9 had essentially the same objectives as Mariners 6 and 7, except that it was to do a more thorough data collection than its predecessors did while in its long orbiting period. The ambitious project surpassed its objectives. It arrived in November to witness a dust storm. With a reprogrammable computer on board, Mariner 9 continued to orbit around Mars while the presence of dust storms on Mars was confirmed as the storm raged below. As the dust storm died down, Mariner 9 got to work and pictured 80% of Mars surface, 10% more than was expected. 7329 photos revealed to scientist Mars' varied landscape, that of great volcanoes and huge canyons, but more importantly, evidence of flow, which suggested the presence of water. This observation sparked one of the greatest questions asked about Mars, and can answer the question to human colonisation of Mars one day. Armed with new data about Mars' atmospheric pressure, NASA could now enter the next phrase of their Mars exploration: the Viking Program. Mariner 9 in the meantime would be remembered as Mars' first satellite, orbiting for nearly a year, the longest yet in its time.